Van Halen singer explains why he personally handles the sale of his music equipment through the drummer

It was the recent sale of the drum kit and other musical equipment by Alex Van Halen that rubbed Sammy Hager the wrong way.

“I think that (the sale) was his statement to me,” Hagar told Classic Rock. He had approached Van Halen about participating in some capacity on his “Best of All Worlds” tour in North America this summer, during which Hagar and his band will play Van Halen songs during the show. “I think that was his way of saying, ‘I’m done. I’m done.’ It’s a shame.”

Alex Van Halen is the former drummer of Van Halen. Hagar was the band’s lead singer from 1985 to 1996 and then from 2003 to 2005.

In collaboration with Backstage Auctions in Houston, Texas, Van Halen’s auction included 350 lots, including “a wide variety of memorabilia such as drum sets, snare drums, children’s drums, drum heads, road cases, cymbals, gongs, sticks and mallets, personal items, record awards, signed pieces and much more.”

The auction began on June 1 and ended on June 9.

Hagar told Classic Rock that when he began planning the tour with original Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony – who plays with Hagar in the bands The Circle and Chickenfoot – he “immediately contacted Al and said, ‘Hey, we’re doing this. It’s been 20 years now, Al. We’re not getting any younger. Meet me anytime, anywhere, any place – breakfast, lunch, dinner. At my house. At your house. At the beach. I don’t care. You want to go bungee jumping? Whatever you want. Let’s talk about it.'”

Van Halen has not been seen or heard from since the death of his brother, guitar icon Eddie Van Halen. While Hagar had reconnected with Eddie Van Halen before his death, he hasn’t had the same luck with the former Van Halen drummer, who is releasing his memoir, “Brothers,” on October 12.

“No response,” Hagar revealed. “I attacked him again. No response. I called (manager) Irving Azoff. He said, ‘Al doesn’t want to play with anybody. He’s still grieving for his brother… I don’t think he’s ready.’ And I said, ‘Well, get him to talk to me.’ (Azoff) said, ‘OK, here’s his wife’s email address. Maybe (contact her).’ No. No. No. Not a single response. I just said, ‘The guy doesn’t want to play. OK.’ I don’t think he wants to play with me or anybody else. He just sold all his equipment.'”

“There was a time when I said, ‘Oh, he’s going to show up. Look, he’s going to (expletive) show up at the (Los Angeles) Forum or something,'” Hagar added. “Mike and I had this running joke that we would put him on the guest list every night of every show, just for fun. But no, after he sells his drum kit, he’s not going to show up anywhere, I can guarantee you that.”

Hagar’s “The Best of Both Worlds” tour begins July 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida, and runs through August 31 in St. Louis, Missouri, with Loverboy as the opening act.

Tickets are now on sale.